A StarNewsOnline Blog

All things high school sports from Southeastern North Carolina

The Trask boys’ basketball team is off to a perfect start at 6-0, fueled by senior Rasheed Brown. The shooting guard hit seven three-pointers last Tuesday against Topsail on the way to 29 points. He had 24 points in a victory over Wilmington Christian last Thursday and came back with a season-high 33 points in Friday’s 82-74 win over North Brunswick. I caught up with Brown, the Star-News Player of the Week for Dec. 2-7: What’s been the secret to… Read More »

The end is here. After 12 weeks of regular season action and four rounds of playoffs, there are just 16 teams left across the state. Champions will be crowned on Friday and Saturday, and we’ll pick all eight championship games to decide our own playoff You Pick ‘Em champ. Tim Hower threw down the only perfect score last week, hitting all eight East Region finals. Most other pickers got either six or seven correct as the cumulative average was 6.2.… Read More »

With winter sports in full gear, there’s good variety among the latest Player of the Week nominees. Check out their credentials and make sure to vote on the StarNews Varsity home page or click here. We’ll announce our selection Thursday with a Q-and-A here on the blog and in Friday’s print edition. Rasheed Brown, Trask boys’ basketball, Sr.: Brown’s early season scoring spree has the Titans at 5-0, including three wins last week. The shooting guard hit seven three-pointers Tuesday… Read More »

GAME STORY GALLERY PREDICT 1AA FINAL WARSAW – Junior Khalil Savage skidded across the turf to smother the loose football, and the James Kenan sideline lost control in raucous celebration. Players sprinted in all directions, many hollering toward the buzzing home bleachers. A few even dropped their helmets on the playing field in the chaos, forcing coaches to quickly collect them to avoid a penalty. With a two-touchdown lead on rival Wallace-Rose Hill and less than two minutes left Friday,… Read More »

The NCHSAA approved several items at its winter Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, notably a seeding process for all sports that utilize 64-team bracketed tournaments that will begin next season. This move will effect volleyball, baseball and softball and is designed to bring more consistency across sports. Boys’ soccer used a seeded bracket this season for the first time, and it will be used again for the girls in the spring. Other items improved included getting rid of the… Read More »

The New Hanover boys’ basketball team claimed a 48-40 win over Pender on Wednesday night to open their season, but the Wildcats certainly had to grind for it. The Patriots led through three quarters, and the home team didn’t take the lead for good until sophomore Accheaus Fields hit a layup with 2:25 left. (See a massive photo gallery here.) With senior transfers Ridell Camidge (Ashley) and Shawn Robinson (Hoggard) in the fold, New Hanover returned the most varsity experience… Read More »

With the Vikings short-handed until the end of football season, Bryant carried a heavy load in three games last week. The junior guard averaged 21 points per game as the team went 1-2 against top competition. He showcased his well-rounded game in a season-opening win over Jacksonville with 23 points, nine assists and three steals. Star-News correspondent Cam Ellis caught up with Bryant, the Star-News Player of the Week for Nov. 25-30: Because of the overlapping of seasons, you guys… Read More »

The region semifinals provided a few surprises most of our pickers didn’t see coming. Three teams won on the road last week, and everybody got at least two of our eight games incorrect. All 20 pickers had Hoggard, but the Vikings couldn’t hold an early lead in a loss to Greenville Rose. Wilson Hunt scored an upset of Douglas Byrd and Wallace-Rose Hill downed mighty Tarboro. (The matchup between the Bulldogs and Vikings was split 50-50 by our pickers.) The… Read More »

Thanksgiving made for a light area schedule, but we’ll still pick a Player of the Week. Check out these four candidates and make sure to vote on the StarNews Varsity home page or click here. We’ll announce our selection Thursday with a Q-and-A here on the blog and in Friday’s print edition. Trae Bryant, Hoggard boys’ basketball, Jr.: With the Vikings short-handed until the end of football season, Bryant carried a heavy load in three games last week. The junior… Read More »